Set It & Forget It Recipes for the Working Mom

by Guest Columnist Sarah Lasry

Besides everything else that I do to provide for my daughter out of my home, I also have a 24/7 full time job where I work as a teacher, entertainer, cleaning lady, and of course, the on–call chef.

The truth is if you are a mother, by default you are a full−time working mom. And if you are anything like me as a mom, you are always looking for those little things in life that make your job a little easier. So, I have a secret weapon in my kitchen arsenal − the one pot.

What is this one pot kitchen miracle you ask? Well, it is really two things; a cast iron Dutch oven pot (like the Le Creuset pots I buy on sale at T.J.Maxx or, the less expensive and almost as superior, Rachel Ray Pot I bought at Kohl's) that I use when I have 2 hours before dinner and I have yet to put anything up.

Or, it is my $19.99 Crockpot slow cooker that is not only used for my Shabbat cholent. My slow cooker is the perfect solution for when I am out of the house at 8 AM, with no time to make dinner before my daughter comes home from school.

These two One Pots are my best friends in the kitchen and are perfect for what I like to call "Set it & Forget it − One Pot Recipes".

The trick to one pot cooking is making sure that your liquid−to−ingredients ratio is not too much or too little – combined with the temperature of the oven, or slow cooker, and the amount of time you plan on cooking it. Sounds a little complicated, but truthfully it is not. It really is a simple matter of common sense, or trial and error, when it comes to creating your own recipes. Many times I just dump what's left in the fridge − vegetables, meat, etc; use ingredients already in my pantry...walk away and Voilà – a delicious dinner!